Mauricio Pochettino is set to become the new manager of Chelsea this summer, a year after losing the Manchester United post to Erik ten Hag. Last Friday, former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann withdrew from the race to become the next permanent Chelsea manager. He is still a strong contender to become Tottenham’s new manager this summer, but his choice has paved the way for Pochettino to head to Stamford Bridge.
The Argentine previously led Spurs for five and a half years, leading them to the Champions League final in 2019 before being fired six months later. He then spent a season and a half at Paris Saint-Germain before being fired at the end of last season. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now dropped a massive update on the latest on Mauricio Pochettino to Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino closing in on Chelsea job as Romano claims ‘agreement’ imminent
On April 5, Bruno Saltor assumed charge of Chelsea’s their goalless Premier League tie with Liverpool before Frank Lampard took over as interim manager. Results have gone from bad to worse, with the club losing four straight games under Lampard, including Champions League elimination. As a result, the Blues have been aggressively seeking a new permanent manager.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to become the Blues’ new head coach. The 51-year-old has been fancying his chances ever since the likes of Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique. On Monday (April 24), the west London giants reportedly had a very positive meeting with the Argentine tactician, of which Romano tweeted:
“Discussions progressing well on the final details between Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino. Very positive meeting took place on Monday in Spain discussing on long term project. ?⏳ #CFC All parties expect full agreement to be completed soon.”
Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs since leaving English football three seasons ago, having struggled to exert the same authority at PSG, with the club’s decision to part ways with him at the end of last season well in the making. He was passed over for the United job in favour of then-Ajax manager Ten Hag.
The Argentine then remarked about his choice, claiming that “timing” was a major factor in his absence from the Old Trafford hot seat. He was PSG manager when United replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with interim coach Ralf Rangnick in November 2021, and both positions had changed six months later. Rangnick served as a holder at Old Trafford until both Pochettino and Ten Hag became available, with the Dutchman being picked.
Pochettino is thought to have met with Chelsea multiple times in order to be named as their next permanent manager, but he is now expected to keep away from the hot seat until the end of the season. This would put Lampard in control of the club’s remaining league games as they look to improve on their current 11th-placed position.